WHAT
IS
THE NEWSPAPER LOOPHOLE?
The unregulated sale of firearms by unlicensed sellers through classified ads in newspapers allows felons, domestic abusers, minors, and other persons who are prohibited by law from possessing firearms to buy guns without a criminal background check. We call this the “newspaper loophole.”
The potential danger to the general public from the private sale of firearms through the classifieds is illustrated by the Mark Williams and Benjamin Smith incidents. See stories below.
The National Campaign to Close the Newspaper Loophole asks newspapers to restrict firearms advertisements to licensed firearms dealers only, and to not accept classified ads for guns from unlicensed sellers. Since the campaign was launched in November 2001, at least 76 newspapers across the country with a combined circulation of 8.1 million have changed their firearms advertising policy.
News Report
An editorial from the Daily News Leader
Published in Staunton, VA
on June 18, 2007
News Report
Investigative Report: Newspaper Loophole
Aired on KCRG TV9 Cedar Rapids, Iowa
on May 8, 2006
News Report
Newspaper Classifieds
Marketplace for Illegal Gun Transfers
This report provides the results of a survey of the firearms advertising policies of daily newspapers published in the U.S. Of 1,449 newspapers surveyed, 274 newspapers (19%) do not take classified ads for guns from unlicensed sellers; 145 newspapers (10%) take classified ads from rifles and shotguns, but not handguns; and 1,030 newspapers (71%) take ads for all guns - rifles, shotguns, and handguns. Newspapers that do not take ads for guns from unlicensed sellers are listed in the report. View full report
News:
- "Tacoma Mall Shooting Illustrates Threat to Public Safety from Unregulated Sale of Firearms through the Classifieds," US Newswire, November 30, 2005
- "The Newspaper Classifieds - A Marketplace for Illegal Gun Transfers, according to new report by the Campaign to Close the Newspaper Loophole", US Newswire, November 21, 2005
- "Illegal Gun Dealer who Advertised in Statesman sentenced to three years", Austin- American Statesmen, November 2, 2005
- "Indiana Newspapers Restrict Gun Ads as Campaign to Close the Newspaper Loophole Gains Momentum," October 27, 2005
- "Illinois Newspapers Shun Gun Ads as Campaign to Close the Newspaper Loophole Gains Momentum", October 20, 2005
- "Texas Man Arrested for Illegally Selling Firearms Through the Classifieds," Austin American-Statesman, June 18, 2005
Texas Man Arrested for Illegally Trafficking in Firearms Through Newspaper Classifieds
Hen-Jen "Andrew" Wu, a civil engineer from Cedar Park, Texas wanted to earn some extra money. So he went into business selling guns through classified ads in the newspaper and over Internet sites. But Wu was not a licensed firearms dealer and he never applid for a dealer's license. On June 14, 2004, Wu was arrested in Austin for violating several Federal firearms laws, including being "engaged in the business" of dealing in firearms without a license to do so.
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How Ben Smith Got His Guns for Shooting Spree The tale begins with Donald Fiessinger of Pekin, Illinois. Over a two-year period 1997-1999 Fiessinger purchased 65 inexpensive handguns - often referred to as "Saturday night specials" - from a single gun store, the Old Prairie Trading Post in Pekin. He then resold the guns through classified ads he took out in local newspapers, selling them at up to twice the store price. |
Newspaper Classified Ad Source for Gun Used by Florida Man to Kill Estranged Wife
Mark Williams and newspaper ad for gun (insert) used by Williams to kill his estranged wife
Mark Williams of Bradenton, Florida was involved in a contentious divorce and child custody dispute. A custody hearing was scheduled for April 28, 2003 and a divorce hearing on May 2. But neither hearing would be held.
On the morning of April 27, one day before the scheduled custody hearing, Williams bought a CZ-52 – 7.62x25mm Tokarev semiautomatic handgun from an unlicensed seller through a classified ad in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Later on the same day that he bought the gun, he shot and killed his estranged wife, Raquel Soliz-Williams, in front of her nine-year-old daughter from a previous relationship.
